Continuum for Phones is a cool and productive Windows 10 Mobile feature that allows to use your phone as a big-screen projector for a PC like experience on external display. With help of a dock or adapter you can connect to a TV or monitor, then use supported apps and see your content from your phone on a larger screen and the best part is that Phone apps show up on TV or Monitor with “Windows 10 UI“. You can connect a keyboard and mouse and get productive. Though only Lumia 950 and Lumia 950 XL support this feature because of hardware constraints. Here is video that lets you see Continuum for Phones in action.
Now Microsoft has provided answer to all your Continuum for Phone FAQ at its dedicated page. We are presenting them here and for more you can go to official Continuum page.
How you set up Continuum for phones depends on what type of hardware you’ve got. Here’s what you’ll need to get started.
A TV or monitor with HDMI input.
A Windows 10 Mobile phone that’s compatible with Continuum for phones.
A compatible accessory for connecting your phone to your TV or monitor.
A power outlet to plug in your dock or adapter.
There are two types of accessories you can use to connect: wired docks that your phone plugs into, and Miracast adapters that your phone can connect to wirelessly.
Connecting Wired:
To connect using a wired dock:
Plug the dock into a power outlet.
If you’re connecting to a TV, make sure the TV’s input is set to HDMI.
Plug the dock into the HDMI port on your TV or monitor.
Plug your phone into the dock.
Connecting Wireless:
To connect using a wireless adapter:
Plug the adapter into a power outlet.
If you’re connecting to a TV, make sure the TV’s input is set to HDMI.
Plug the adapter into the HDMI port on your TV or monitor.
On your phone, swipe over to the All apps list, then select Continuum.
Select Set up. (You’ll only see this screen the first time you connect.)
Select Wireless, then select Connect.
On the Connect screen, select the name of the wireless adapter.
There are a couple of ways to connect to Continuum for phones:
Wired dock—Your phone connects to a wired dock, like the Microsoft Display Dock, using a USB cable. The dock plugs into the HDMI port on your TV or monitor, and may also include USB ports for connecting a keyboard and mouse. For more info on the Microsoft Display Dock, go to its support site.
Wireless adapter—Your phone connects wirelessly to a Miracast adapter, like the Actiontec ScreenBeam Pro Wireless Display Receiver or the Actiontec ScreenBeam Mini2. The adapter plugs into the HDMI port on your TV or monitor, and may also include USB ports for connecting a keyboard and mouse.
You can use an HDMI to DVI cable, or an active DisplayPort to DVI cable, to connect a wired dock to your TV or monitor. An HDMI to VGA cable will work in most cases, but it won’t work for video content.
Note that you won’t be able to connect with a passive DisplayPort or HDMI to DisplayPort cable.
If you’re using a wireless adapter, its firmware or settings might be causing the problem. Here’s how to find out:
Swipe down from the top of your phone’s screen to open action center, then select Connect. Under the name of the connected screen, make sure the Allow input from a keyboard or mouse connected to this display check box is selected.
If you don’t see the check box, your wireless adapter’s firmware probably isn’t up to date. For the Actiontec ScreenBeam Pro Wireless Display Receiver, you’ll need version 1.3.5.0 or later. For the Actiontec ScreenBeam Mini2, you’ll need version 5.3.5.0 or later. Go to the manufacturer’s website to update your adapter’s firmware.
If the check box is there, but it isn’t selected, your adapter isn’t set up for keyboard or mouse input. Use the manufacturer’s configuration tool to turn on the adapter’s User Input Back Channel (UIBC). To download the tool, go to the manufacturer’s website.
No. Continuum connects your phone directly to your TV or monitor, either using a wired dock or a wireless adapter. No Wi‑Fi network is required, making it easy to connect on the go.
This can happen for a few different reasons. First, check to make sure all of the cables you’re using are plugged in and functional. Also, make sure your dock or adapter is connected to the correct HDMI port, if your display has more than one. Finally, check the instructions that came with your TV or monitor, and make sure you follow them carefully when you connect.
Your display is set to mirror what’s on your phone’s screen. To change this setting, open the Continuum app, select More > Display settings > Advanced settings, and then select Use different apps on each screen (Recommended).
Try going to the settings menu on your TV or monitor. Look for the picture or image size setting. Select the setting that fits the picture to the screen, if available. (Not all TVs and monitors have this setting.)
To make a phone call, select Start > Phone and dial away. To send a text, select Start > Messaging. You’ll be able to see, answer, and reply to incoming calls and texts like you always do.
Note
You can open the phone app on your connected screen, and even dial a call, but call audio and video will take place on the phone.
Right now, only a selection of apps works with Continuum for phones—including Microsoft Edge, Office apps, and a few others (like Weather and Mail). We’re working to support more apps in future updates. In the meantime, you can still use unsupported apps on your phone—they just won’t show up on the connected screen.
If you’re connected to a monitor, you might need to use a separate audio device in order to hear sound. To do this, connect a speaker to your phone via Bluetooth or by plugging its audio out cable into the phone’s headphone jack.
If you’re not hearing any sound on your TV, make sure the sound isn’t muted on the TV.
If you’re using a wireless adapter, open the Continuum app on your phone and select Disconnect. If you’re using a wired dock, disconnect it from the TV or monitor.
You can use Windows accessibility features on both your phone screen and on your connected TV or monitor. However, Narrator and Magnifier aren’t supported on the connected screen.
The process for updating firmware varies by device, so you’ll need to check your manufacturer’s website for more information. Here are the supported firmware versions for a few common docks and adapters:
Actiontec ScreenBeam Mini2—version 5.3.5.0 or later
Actiontec ScreenBeam Pro Wireless Display Receiver—version 1.3.5.0 or later
Yes. Connect your USB device and phone to the dock, then open the Continuum app and connect to your TV or monitor. To make sure it’s connected, select the Start button, then select File Explorer, and see if the USB device shows up in the left pane. If not, follow these steps to try and fix the problem:
Reconnect your USB device to the dock, then reconnect your phone to the dock.
Restart your phone by holding down the Power button until a Slide down to power off message appears on-screen, and then swiping down. Wait a minute, then press the Power button to restart the phone.
With the phone and USB device still connected to the dock, open File Explorer. If your USB device still isn’t appearing there, it’s not compatible with your phone.
If your printer is supposed to work with Windows 10 Mobile, but isn’t showing up in the list of printer options, make sure it’s on and connected to the same Wi-Fi network as your phone.
